A number of Caribbean nationals are in a better position to pursue studies in tourism/hospitality, with the injection of more than US$ 65,000 in scholarships and grants from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Scholarship Foundation in 2012.

The Foundation has awarded scholarships to the tune of over US$35,000 to successful applicants from the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, and St. Kitts who are pursuing post graduate studies at various educational institutions within and outside the Caribbean.

A total of $29,400 was plugged into grants and awarded to applicants from Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.

More than 190 Caribbean nationals have benefitted from the CTO scholarship and grants programme to the tune of over US$700,000 since the CTO Foundation was founded in 1997.

{FILE IMAGE} Eight students from CTO member countries will pursue post-graduate studies with CTO scholarships, while a dozen receive study grants “The initiative is part of CTO’s commitment to developing the region’s human resource capacity and supporting a well-trained, competent and efficient work force so that the region can be globally competitive,” said Bonita Morgan, CTO’s director of human resources. Information on the CTO Scholarship Programme and a list of scholarship and grant recipients can be found at www.onecaribbean.org

The CTO Foundation was formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes and its main aim is to provide scholarships and study grants to students and industry personnel who are Caribbean nationals from CTO-member countries, who wish to pursue studies in the areas of tourism/hospitality and language training.

The Foundation supports individuals who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement and leadership potential and who express a strong interest in making a contribution to Caribbean tourism. Major CTO Foundation sponsors include American Express, American Airlines, Interval International, Liat, Universal Media, the CTO chapters worldwide and numerous CTO allied members.